Orientation and transfer apparatus for wrapping machine



y 1961 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL 2,983,092

ORIENTATION AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS: HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER 0. SRAMEK BY W wfi -f' ATT'YS y 1961 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL 2,983,092

ORIENTATION AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 1. 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

ATT'YS g f/ ll INVENTORS; HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK y 1961 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL 2,983,092

ORIENTATION AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet HARRY EENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK /ruz ATT'YS y 1961 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL 2,983,092

ORIENTATION AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 w 7 A. I 1 m. IQ I 4 6 y 1961 H. E. ENGLES'ON ETAL 2,983,092

ORIENTATION AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1959 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 TNVENTORS I HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK May 9, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL 2,983,092

ORIENTATION AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORSI HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK ATT'YS United States Patent Ofiice 2,983,092 Patented May 9, 1961 ORIENTATION AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING MACHINE Harry E. Engleson, Chicago, and Elmer D. Sramek,

Cicero, 111., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Crompton & Knowles Packaging Corporation, Holyoke, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 1,. 1959, Ser. No. 810,285

14 Claims. (Cl. 53-133) This invention relates in general to a packaging or wrapping machine, and more particularly to a mechanism for transferring partially wrapped articles between adjacently positioned rotary wheels and for orienting the article so that it may have properly applied thereto another sheet of wrapping material.

In the packaging of hardened candies or elongated cylindrical or polygonally-shaped articles, where it is desired to have an opening element for opening the packaged item, difiiculties are encountered in packaging the article so that theopening element is free to be engaged when the packaging operation has been completed. Specifically, it has been found profitable to follow a certain method of packaging or wrapping of stacks of hardened candies in order to assure preservation and to permit easy access to the package. This wrapping procedure includes initially wrapping the stack of candies with a sheet of wax paper, and then wrapping the candies with a sheet of foil which would enclose the wax paper wrapping. After the sheet of wax paper has been wrapped around the stack ofhardened candies, the opposite open ends are folded over to close the ends of the package. Similarly, the foil. is wrapped around the candies over the wax paper and the open ends are likewise folded over. A preferable form of opening element comprises a length of thread secured along the inner surface of the wax paper wrapping with one end extending freely from the wrapping after it has been applied over a stack of hardened candies. This opening thread would be positioned circumferentially at one end of the package and the free end would extend generally tangentially from the corresponding end of the package. When subsequently wrapping the candies with a sheet of foil, it becomes necessary to maintain the free end of the opening thread properly oriented so that it does not become entirely wrapped by the foil. This necessitates maintaining the candies wrapped by the wax paper having the element properly oriented throughout the wrapping machine.

The foil wrapper is applied to the candies wrapped in the wax paper as they are transferred between adjacent pocketed wheels. Operations are performed on the wheels during indexing thereof between stations. The mechanism for transferring a wax paper wrapped stack of candies between the adjacent pocketed wheels includes a pair of oscillating arms having gripper members mounted thereon for grippingly engaging the opposite ends of the wax paper wrapped package. The gripper members engage a wax paper wrapped stack ofcandies in one of the pocketed wheels and transfer it to the other pocketed wheel. During the transfer operation, a sheet of foil is partially Wrapped about thepackage, and the package is maintained in proper oriented position in.

order to assure that the free end ofthe opening element does not become buried under the foil wrapper. This orientation process is accomplished by rotation of the gripping elements during the transfer operation, and means is provided to engage the opening thread and keep it from being completely wrapped by the foil. Further, inasmuch as a labeling band is subsequently applied to the package, it is necessary to keep the opening thread from being covered up by this band. Thus, the orientation of the opening thread relative to the package serves to keep the thread from becoming covered up by either the foil or the band.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide in a packaging or wrapping machine mechanism for maintaining an article properly oriented during the wrapping operations.

Another object of this invention is in the provision of apparatus for a wrapping machine capable of transfening a partially wrapped article between a pair of adjacent pocket wheels, whereby a predetermined orientation of the article is maintained during the transfer operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a wrapping machine wrapping stacks of hardened candies with sheets of wrapping material having opening threads secured thereto, a mechanism for maintaining the orienta tion of the stack of hardened candies during the wrapping operations and for properly orienting the opening thread in order to prevent it from being wrapped under by successive wrapping operations.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a mechanism for wrapping a sheet of foil over a partially wrapped cylindrical article, wherein the partially wrapped article has an openingv thread projecting therefrom, wherein means is positively provided for keeping the opening thread from being wrapped under by the foil thereby rendering it useless.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed dis closure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a wrapping machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view with some parts removed to show underlying parts of the transfer and orientation mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the wrapping mechanism associated with the transfer and orientation of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the transfer and orientation mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a power diagram of the foil feeding and cutting mechanism of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of. a detail of the driving mechanism of Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the transfer and orientation mechanism, taken substantially along line 77 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the transfer and orientation mechanism of the invention, illustrating the opening thread engaging mechanism in association therewith;

Figs. 9 to 12 are more or less diagrammatic perspective views of a package showing different positions dur-- ing the transfer operation;

Figs. 13 to 15 are diagrammatic side elevational views 7 Fig. 19 is a sectional view, taken along line 19--19 of Fig. 16.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, a portion of a wrapping machine is shown which includes the transfer and wheel 11. Each wheel is rotationally driven step by step,

and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced article receiving pockets; Each pocket on each wheel includes a stationary and a movable gripping finger for rigidly. and positively'gripping the articles being wrapped. The article being wrapped, in this instance, constitutes a stack of annularly-shaped hardened'candies. The wheels are supported on shafts bearingly carried by an upstanding supporting plate 14, and the wheels are driven in clockwise direction. Various wrapping operations are performed on the wheels as they are advanced through wrapping stations. Prior to transfer of the articles to the wheel 13, the inner wax paper is applied to the candies having the opening element secured to the inner side thereof. During transfer to the wheel 13, the inner wax sheet becomes more completely wrapped around the stack of candies. The wax wrapper is completely wrapped around the stack of candies and the open ends are closed by transfer to the wheel 11 which carries the candies through additional stations. A positive transfer of the candies from the wheel 13 to the wheel 11 is accomplished by arms 15 and 16 having engaging fingers 17 and 18 at their lower ends. At the transfer station, the movable gripping fingers of the aligned pockets are temporarily opened for discharge of the candies from the pocket on the wheel 13 to insertion of the candies in the pocket on the wheel 11. When the candies reach the transfer station on the wheel 11, they are completely wrapped and sealed by the inner sheet of wax paper.

During the transfer of wax paper wrapped candies 19, Figs. 9 to' 15, having the opening thread 20 projecting therefrom from the wheel 11 to the wheel 12, a sheet of foil 21, Figs. 11 and 12, is applied to the wrapped candies 19 so that the sheet will not cover up the opening thread 20. Accordingly, it becomes necessary to deliver the wrapped candies 19 to the transfer and orientation apparatus 10 whereby the wrapped candies are already oriented with the opening thread projecting in a certain direction. It further becomes necessary to maintain a proper orientation of the wrapped candies and the opening thread in order to properly apply the foil wrapper and to properly position the opening thread so that it does notbecome covered up by the wrapping foil or subsequently applied labeling band.

Accordingly, the opposite ends of the wrapped candies 19 are grippingly engaged by rubber gripping members 22 and 23 carried on the ends of coaxially aligned square shafts 24 and 25 respectively. The shafts 24 and 25 are axially slidable in bearings carried by bosses 26 and 27 mounted on the upper ends of oscillating levers 28 and 29. These levers are secured at the lower ends to a rock shaft 30, Fig. 4, oscillated by a crank arm 31 having a cam follower 32 mounted on its free end for engaging aca'm track in a cam 33. The cam 33 is carried on a' shaft34 connected to the main drive shaft of the machine. During oscillation of the oscillating levers 28 and 29,

which efiects the transfer of the wrapped candies 19 becandies is accomplished by pinion gears 35 and 36 hav- 7 ing square bores for slidably-receiving the square shafts 24 and 25. The pinion gears 35 and 36 are in engagement with arcuately formed stationary rack gears 37 and 38, whereby movement of the pinion gears relative to the rack gears effects rotation of the pinion gears and subsequent rotation of the wrapped candies.

At the beginning of the transfer operation, the rubber gripping members 22 and 23 are advanced inwardly to grip the opposite ends of the wrapped candies 19, while these gripping members are moved outwardly away from the" ends} of the wrapped candies when .the 'candis'have been delivered to the aligned pockets on thewheel 12 at the end of the transfer operation. Thus, it becomes necessary to effect reciprocation of the gripping members 22 and 23 at the beginning and end of the transfer operation. This reciprocation is provided by a driven cam 39,

/ Fig. 4, engaging a cam follower 40canried on the upper end of a rocking lever 41 rockable' on a shaft 42.

A push-pull link 43 is pivotally mounted to the rocking lever 41 above the axis of the shaft 42. This link is slidably guided through a herein the rock shaft 30, and

' carries a block 44 at the other end, Fig. 2, which is pivotally connected to the lower end of an oscillating lever' 45. This lever 45 is pivotally carried bythe oscillating lever 29 at 46 and supports a pin 47 at its upper end engaging a bifurcated collar 48 that is secured to the end of the square shaft 25 opposite the gripping member 23.

A second push-pull link 49 is pivotally mounted at one end to the rocking lever 41 at a point below the axis of the shaft 42 and substantially on the opposite side of the shaft 42 from the pivot connection of the push-pull link 43. The other end of .the push-pull link 49is pivotally the oscillating lever 28. The upper'end of the lever 55 carries a pin 57 in engagement with a bifurcated-collar 58 carried on the end of the square shaft 24 opposite the gripping member 22.

Thus, rocking of the lever 41 pushes one of the pushpull links while pulling the other in order. to move the gripping members 22 and 23 into and out of engagement with a wrapped candy. The cam 39 operating the lever 41 is connected to the main drive of the. machine and therefore synchronized with the operation of the cam -33.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 7 to 1'9, a'scissors assembly 59 is provided for frictionally gripping theopening thread 20 as it is moved thereby in order to properly position the opening thread and prevent it from being covered by the foil sheet 21 or the labeling band. The scissors assembly 59 initially engages the opening thread at a point extremely close to where thethreadprojects from the wrapped candies. This point is very 'close to the overlapping exposed longitudinal edge of the wax wrapping sheet. The remainder of the opening thread is then essentially threaded through the scissors assembly in order to align the thread along a radial plane .extending through the corresponding end of the wrapped candies. Thus, if the opening. thread had become displaced from this plane, to the extent that it might be wrapped in by the closing ends of the foil or wrappedunder the labeling band, it would be repositioned toavoid this undesirable'result. n V

This scissors'assembly includes coacting: gripping fingers '60 and 61 pivotally carried on a pin 62. The gripping fingers are recessed at 63 and 64, Fig. 18, 'in order to define an elongated, vertically extending slot 65, Fig. 17, for receiving the opening thread 20. The slot'65 is closed at both ends and preferably ofa width' slightly less than or equal to the diameter of the opening thread Integral with and extendingangularly from the gripper fingers 60 and fil are cam actuated arms 66 and '67 en-= gageabie on the upper sideswith a horizontally extendingv straight cam face 68, iandon the, lower sides with oppo sitelyincline'dcam, faces 69,-Figs. 16 and 18. The cam faces 68, and 69 are [coplanar and integrally formed on a stationary cam plate. 70.

' Engagement. of the cam actuated arms 66 and 67 for opening and closing the gripping fingers 60 mm 61 is accomplished by raising and lowering the pin 62 mounting the fingers'so that the arms 66 and 67 alternately engage the cam faces 68 and 69, as seen in Figs. 16 to 18. A clearance slot 71 is provided in the cam plate 70 in alignment. with, the path through which the opening thread 20 will be guided by the scissors assembly 59 in order to prevent engagement of the opening thread 20 with the cam plate 70. Raising and lowering of the scissors assembly 59 is accomplished by an oscillating arm 72 pivotally mounting the pin 62 on its free end, as seen in Figs. 16 to 19. The arm 72 is pivoted on a stub shaft 73 and is interconnected with a second oscillating lever 74 having a push-pull link 75 pivotally connected to its free end. The push-pull link 75 .is pivotally. connected intermediately of a cam operated lever 76 pivoted at its upper end to a stud 77 and. having a cam follower 78 mounted at its lower end, Fig. 2. The cam follower 78 is engaged by a cam track in a cam 79 driven by a shaft 80. The shaft 80- is interconnected with the main drive of the machine and accordingly synchronized with the 60 and 61 thereon. The fingers 60 and 61 are freely' pivotal on the pin 62 and held in engagement with each other by means of a spring 83 encircling the pin 62. The spring 83 is bottomed at one end against the inner side ofthe leg 81 and at the other end against the washer collar 84 carried on thepin 62 and held in position by a cotter pin 85.

A sheet of foil delivered to the wrapping station positioned intermediate the pocketed wheels 11 and 12 is cut from a continuous web 86, Figs. 1 and 7, which has had applied thereto a quantity of adhesive at predetermined places for sealing the foil tightly when wrapping it about the wax paper wrapped candies. The foil web is unwound from a roll of foil 87 carried on a roll support 88 positioned above the transfer station and fed over a guide roller 89 and onto an adhesive applying roller 90 rot-atably mounted in an adhesive box 91. The adhesive may be of any suitable type, such as a mixture of parafiin and microcrystalline wax. From the adhesive applying roller 90, the web 86 is directed downwardly over a pair of guide rollers 92 and 93, Fig. 1, and then 'rearwardly over a guide roller 94. From the roller 94, the web is directed downwardly against a tensioning roller 95 to a pair of coacting driven rollers 96 and 97, Fig. 7. The driven rollers 96 and 97 function to measure a predetermined lengthbetween the point of discharge therefrom and a pair of cutter rollers 98 -and 99 spaced downwardly therefrom, Fig. 5. Knife blades 100 and 101 are carried on the cutterv rollers 98 and 99 for cutting the foil web 86 intothe foil sheets 21;.

Positioned below' the: cutter rollers 98 and 99 are a pair of'variablespeed driven spacing rollers 102 and 103 functioning to space the foil sheets 21.

Power is delivered to the driven rollers by means of a chain 104, Fig. 5, which is driven from themain drive shaft thereby-synchronizing the action of therollers with the other: parts of the machine. The chain 104 drives a sprocket 1 05 mounted on a shaft having a pinion 106 thereon. which delivers power .to the cutter rollers 98 and-99. Tlhepinion 106 engages an idler 107 which in turnis in 'engagementwith a 'pinion108 that delivers power to the driven rollers, 96 and 97. The pinion 106. is also. in engagement with -a driver gear 109 that rtansmits a variable speed movement'to a driven gear '110 through a mechanical coupling, the gear110 thereby delivering the variablespeed power to the variable speed rollers 102 and 103. The mechanical coupling comprises. a slot or yoke '1'11, Figs. 5 and 6, carried by the driver gear 109, which engages a pin 112 mounted on the driven gear 110.

A stop plate 113, Figs. 2, 3 and 7 is stationarily supported between the oscillating levers 28 and 29 .and has provided at its upper end a V-sh-aped trough extending transversely of the machine and directly below the path of the downwardly delivered foil sheets 21. When a sheet is bottomed in the trough, a pair of gripping fingers 115 pin the opposite lower corners of the sheet to the plate 113. Thus, the lower end of each foil sheet is held as the wax paper wrapped candies are advanced through the foil sheet and toward the pocketed wheel 12. By holding the lower end of the sheet a predetermined time, it can then be properly positioned and oriented on the wax paper wrapped candies. in order that it does not cover up the opening thread 20. The fingers 115 are carried on a bracket 116 mounted at the upper end of an oscil-. lating arm 11-7. The arm 1:17 is. integral with a rotatable sleeve 118, Fig. 4, rotatably carried on the rock shaft 30 and positioned between the oscillating levers 28 and,

29. A downwardly extending actuating arm 119 is integral with the sleeve 1'18 and pivotally connected to a link 120. The link 120 is in turn pivotally connected to stood that this application is to be limited only by thescope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:.

1. In a packaging machine for wrappingarticles in-' cluding a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for receiving articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotate on spaced parallel axes, means for transferring each article from one of said wheels tothe other said wheel and maintaining each article oriented, said means comprising a pair of spaced coaxially aligned. gripping members adapted to engage and grip therebetween opposite ends of each article, and

means for revolving said gripping members through a predetermined rotation during the transfer.

2. In a packaging machine for wrapping articles including a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for receiving'articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotate on spaced parallel axes, means for transferring each article from one'of said wheels to the other said wheel and maintaining each article oriented, said means comprising a pair of spaced coaxially aligned gripping members adapted to engage and grip therebetween opposite ends of each article, means for oscillating said gripping members through a predetermined arc, and means for revolving said gripper members through a predetermined rotation during the oscillation.

3. In awrapping machine for applying a sheet of wrapping material to a partially wrapped article having an opening element of thread projecting from one end thereof, a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for receiving articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotate on spacedparallel axes, means for transferring each article from a pocket iinone wheel to a pocket in said other wheel and-for main; I

taining the article in an oriented position, said means comprising a pair of spaced and coaxially aligned g ippers arranged to grippingly engage therebetween opposite ends of each article, and means for moving said grippers into andout of engagement with'each article, means for transferring said grippers from a position adjacent one wheel to a position adjacent the other wheel, and means for revolving said grippers through a predetermined rotation during the transfer.

1' fl. In a wrapping machine for applying a sheet of wrapping material to a partially wrapped article having an opening element of thread projecting from one end thereof, a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for receiving articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotate on spaced parallel axes, means for rotating said wheels step-by-step in timed relation, means for transferring each article from a pocket in one wheel to a pocket in said other wheel and for orienting the article during the transfer thereof, said transfer means comprising a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally mounted at one end thereof, a gripper rotatably carried at the other end of each arm, said grippers adapted to grippingly engage therebetween the opposite ends of an article and being coaxially spaced apart, means for axially moving said grippers toward and away from each other, and means for oscillating said arms between said wheels when transferring said articles.

5. In a wrapping machine for applying a sheet of wrapping material to, a partially wrapped article having an opening element of thread projecting from one end thereof, a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for receiving articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotate on spaced parallel axes, means for transferring each article from a pocket in one wheel to a pocket in said other wheel and for main taining the article in an oriented position, said means comprising a pair of aligned grippers arranged to grippingly engage opposite ends of each article, means for moving said grippers into and out of engagement with each article,

means for transferring said grippers from a position adjacent one wheel to a position adjacent the other wheel, means for revolving said grippers through a predetermined rotation during the transfer, and means for engaging and maintaining the opening element in properly oriented relation to said article.

6. In a wrapping machine for applying a sheet of wrapping material to a partially wrapped article having an opening element of thread projecting from one end thereof, a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for receiving articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotate on spaced parallel axes, means for rotating said wheels step-by-step in timed relation, means for transferring each article from a pocket in one wheel to a pocket in said other wheel and for orienting the article during the transfer thereof, said transfer means comprising a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally mounted at one end thereof, a gripper rotatably carried at the other end of each arm, said grippers adapted to grippingly engage therebetween the opposite ends of an article and being coaxially spaced apart, means for axially moving said grippers toward and away from each other, and means for oscillating said arms between said wheels when transferring said articles, and means for feeding a sheet of foil into the transfer path of said par.- tially wrapped article;

"7. In a wrapping machine for applying a sheet of wrapping material to a partially wrapped article having an opening element of thread projecting from one end there-. of, a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for. receiving articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotate on spaced parallel axes, means for rotating said wheels step-by-step'in timed relation, means for. transferring each article from a pocket in onewhe el to a.pocket in said other wheel and for orienting the article during the transfer thereof, said transfer meanscomprising a pair of, arms, each arm being pivotally mounted at ,one' nd thereor, af 'gri perjretat-j ablylcarried' at the other 'end'pf e means for axially moving said grippers toward andaway from each other, means foroscillatingi said armsib tween' said wheels when transferring said articles, and'me'ans for applying a sheet of foil to said partially wrapped article during transfer thereof between said wheels.

8. In a wrapping machine for-applying ,a sheet of' wrapping material 'to a partially wrapped article having an opening element of thread projecting "from one end thereof, apair'of wheels having circumferentiallylspaced pockets for receiving articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotate on spaced parallel axes, means for rotating said'wheels" step-,by-stepin timed relation, means for transferring each articlei from axially moving said gripperstoward and away'from each other, means for oscillating said arms between'said wheels when transferring said articles, and means for applying a sheet of foil to said partially wrapped article during transfer thereof between said wheels, said applying means comprising'means for feeding a sheet 'of foil into the.

transfer path of said partially wrapped article and means ping thereof about the art iclea a 9. In a wrapping machine for applying'a sheet of Wrapping material to a partially wrapped article having an opening element ofthread projecting from one end thereof, a pair of wheels having circumferentiallyjspaced for holding one edge of the foil during the initial Wrap-v pocketsfor'receiving articles, said wheels beingadjacent to' each other and mounted to rotate on spaced parallel V axes, means for transferring each article from a pocket in one wheel to a pocket in said other wheel and for maintaining the article in an oriented position, said means comprising a pair of aligned grippers arranged to. grippingly engage opposite ends of each article, means for moving said grippers into and out of engagement with a each article, means for transferring said grippers from a position adjacent one wheel to a position adjacent the other wheel, means for revolvingsaid grippers through a predetermined rotation during the transfer, and means for engaging the opening element of said packaged article and orienting same relative to saidarticle during the transfer operation. I

10. In a Wrapping machine for applying a sheet of wrapping material to a partially wrapped article having an opening element of' thread projecting from one end thereof, a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for receiving articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mountedto rotate on spaced parallel axes, means for transferring each article from a pocket in one wheel to a pocket in said other wheel and for maintaining the article in an oriented position, said'means comprisinga pair of aligned grippers arranged to grippingly engage opposite ends of each article,'mea ns for 'moving said grippersinto and out of engagement with each article, means for transferring said grippers from a position adjacent one wheel to a position adjacent the other wheel, means for revolving said grippers through a predetermined rotation during the transfer, and a scissors assembly for engaging the opening element of the packaged article during the transfer operation and orienting the opening element relative to the article.

11. In a wrapping machine for applying a sheet of wrapping'material to a partially wrapped articlehaving an opening elementof thread projecting-from one end I ,fa mgia s i ppe' 'sl' adapted to grippingly engage therebetwejn thfifdpposit'e ends of an article and being' coaxiallyfspaced flpart;

thereof, a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for receiving articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotate on spaced parallel axes, means for transferring each article from a pocket in one wheel to a pocket in said other wheel and for maintaining the article in an oriented position, said means comprising a pair of ali ned grippers arranged to grippingly engage opposite ends of each article, means for moving said grippers into and out of engagement with each article, means for transferring said grippers from a position adjacent one wheel to a position adjacent the other wheel, means for revolving said grippers through a predetermined rotation during the transfer, a scissors assembly for engaging the opening element of the packaged article during the transfer operation and orienting the opening element relative to the article, and means for opening and closing said. scissors assembly to frictionally engage the opening element and permit the element to be drawn therethrough.

12. In a wrapping machine for applying a sheet of wrapping material to a partially Wrapped article having an opening element of thread projecting from one end thereof, a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for receiving articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotate on spaced parallel axes, means for transferring each article from a pocket in one wheel to a pocket in said other wheel and for maintaining the article in an oriented position, said means comprising a pair of aligned grippers arranged to grippingly engage opposite ends of each article, means for moving said grippers into and out ofengagement with each article, means for transferring said grippers from a position adjacent one wheel to a position adjacent the other wheel, means for revolving said grippers through a predetermined rotation during the transfer, a scissors assembly for engaging the opening element of the packaged article during the transfer operation and orienting the opening element relative to the article, means for opening and closing said scissors assembly to frictionally engage the opening element and permit the element to be drawn therethrough, and means for raising and lowering said scissors assembly into and out of the path of the packaged article after the article has passed thereby.

13. In a wrapping machine for applying a sheet of wrapping material to a partially wrapped article having an opening element of thread projecting from one end thereof, a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for receiving articles, said wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotateon spaced parallel axes, means for transferring each article from a pocket in one wheel to a pocket in said other wheel and for maintaining the article in an oriented posiarticle, means for moving said grippers into and out of engagement with each article, means for transferring said grippers from a position adjacent one wheel to a position adjacent the other wheel, means for revolving said grippers through a predetermined rotation during the transfer, a scissors assembly for engaging the opening element of the packaged article during the transfer operation and orienting the opening element relative to the article, means for raising and lowering said scissors assembly into and out of the path of the packaged article after the article has passed thereby, and cam means for opening and closing said scissors assembly operable upon raising and lowering said assembly to frictionally engage the opening element and permit the element to be drawn therethrough.

14. In a wrapping machine for applying a sheet of wrapping material to a partially wrapped article having an opening element of thread projecting from one end thereof, a pair of wheels having circumferentially spaced pockets for receiving articles, said Wheels being adjacent to each other and mounted to rotate on spaced parallel axes, means for transferring each article from a pocket in one wheel to a pocket in said other wheel and for maintaining the article in an oriented position, said means comprising a pair of aligned grippers arranged to grippingly engage opposite ends of each article, means for moving said grippers into and out of engagement with each article, means for transferring said grippers from a position adjacent one wheel to a position adjacent the other wheel, means for revolving said grippers through a predetermined rotation during the transfer, a scissors assembly for engaging the open-ing element of the packaged article during the transfer operation and orienting the opening element relative to the article, means for raising and lowering said scissors assembly into and out of the path of the packaged article after the article has passed thereby, cam means for opening and closing said scissors assembly operable upon raising and lowering said assembly to frictionally engage the opening element and permit the element to be drawn therethrough, and means for applying a sheet of foil to said partially wrapped article during transfer thereof between said wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,452,604 Hopkins Apr. 24, 1923 2,627,710 Hohl Feb. 10, 1953 2,631,417 Harrison Mar. 17, 1953 

